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Are You Still There
After her high school is rocked by an anonymous bomb threat, "perfect student" Gabriella Mallory is recruited to work on a secret crisis helpline that may help uncover the would-be bomber's identity.
Gabriella Mallory, AP student and perfect-daughter-in-training, stands barefoot on a public toilet for three hours while her school is on lockdown. Someone has planted a bomb and she is hiding. The bomb is defused but the would-be-bomber is still at large. And everyone at Central High School is a suspect. The school starts a top-secret crisis help line and Gabi is invited to join. When she does, she is drawn into a suspenseful game of cat and mouse with the bomber, who has unfinished business. He leaves threatening notes on campus. He makes threatening calls to the help line. And then he begins targeting Gabi directly. Is it because her father is the lead police detective on the case? Is the bomber one of her new friends. Could it be her new boyfriend with his complicated past? As the story unfolds, Gabi knows she is somehow connected to the bomber. Even worse she is part of his plan. Can Gabi reach out and stop him? Or will she be too late?
Gabriella Mallory, AP student and perfect-daughter-in-training, stands barefoot on a public toilet for three hours while her school is on lockdown. Someone has planted a bomb and she is hiding. The bomb is defused but the would-be-bomber is still at large. And everyone at Central High School is a suspect. The school starts a top-secret crisis help line and Gabi is invited to join. When she does, she is drawn into a suspenseful game of cat and mouse with the bomber, who has unfinished business. He leaves threatening notes on campus. He makes threatening calls to the help line. And then he begins targeting Gabi directly. Is it because her father is the lead police detective on the case? Is the bomber one of her new friends. Could it be her new boyfriend with his complicated past? As the story unfolds, Gabi knows she is somehow connected to the bomber. Even worse she is part of his plan. Can Gabi reach out and stop him? Or will she be too late?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
11 people are currently reading
630 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Lynn Scheerger
12 books58 followersSarah Lynn Scheerger is also known as Sarah Lynn and Sarah Scheerger.
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September 29, 2015
Gabriella is trapped in her school's bathroom as a bomb threat is carried out in her high school.
That's how this book starts. So you expect a powerful book. It doesn't happen. It does not even come close.
Gabi is a pretty perfect girl, she eats the super healthy food that her OCD mom makes for her, follows all the rules, gets on my frigging nerves.
Because I'm a AP kid and a cross-country kid and a leadership kid, I have special powers to circumvent Central's social clique boundaries. It's like being Superwoman, only I don't let it go to my head.
Once the threat is over the school decides to set up a "hotline" for kids to call in privately. Of course Gabi is one of the chosen few. Along with a hispanic male named Miguel and several other kids from the school's cliques. Such as Garth the jock, a party girl, etc.
Is it to give the kids help when they call? Well no. The kids aren't trained to to that. They are only there to direct the callers to other hotlines.
So why the fuck do it? This just made no sense to me but whatever.
I think it was an easy way for the author to work in what this book was all about. A FLIPPING ROMANCE.
Gabi gets the hots for Miguel. Who is hispanic...*gasp*
"Oh Gabi." Her eyes soften. "You don't have to get all desperate on me. Lots of girls don't have their first real boyfriend until college. You're not behind schedule."
The storyline with the wanna be bomber seems to be woven into the story just so that the book blurb can make it seem like this book is important.
You have excerpts from the "bombers" diary talking to you throughout the book.
He leaves playing cards as clues for Gabi (of course)
Gabi's dad is the detective on the bombing case. But does she go to him with any of this?
Noooooo because Gabi is a snowflake. She has the power.
I have the power to stop this.
If I play by his rules.
If I gain his trust.
I can save everyone.
Including him.
This is a really shitty way to handle such a powerful topic of school violence and bullying. Making the main character take on a dangerous situation by herself sends the wrong message. What if some "real life" person reads this book and decides to do the same based on this lame shit?
Hell no.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
My friend Alicia wrote a wonderful review on this book. She liked it just a bit more than I did.
That's how this book starts. So you expect a powerful book. It doesn't happen. It does not even come close.
Gabi is a pretty perfect girl, she eats the super healthy food that her OCD mom makes for her, follows all the rules, gets on my frigging nerves.
Because I'm a AP kid and a cross-country kid and a leadership kid, I have special powers to circumvent Central's social clique boundaries. It's like being Superwoman, only I don't let it go to my head.
Once the threat is over the school decides to set up a "hotline" for kids to call in privately. Of course Gabi is one of the chosen few. Along with a hispanic male named Miguel and several other kids from the school's cliques. Such as Garth the jock, a party girl, etc.
Is it to give the kids help when they call? Well no. The kids aren't trained to to that. They are only there to direct the callers to other hotlines.
So why the fuck do it? This just made no sense to me but whatever.
I think it was an easy way for the author to work in what this book was all about. A FLIPPING ROMANCE.
Gabi gets the hots for Miguel. Who is hispanic...*gasp*
"Oh Gabi." Her eyes soften. "You don't have to get all desperate on me. Lots of girls don't have their first real boyfriend until college. You're not behind schedule."
The storyline with the wanna be bomber seems to be woven into the story just so that the book blurb can make it seem like this book is important.
You have excerpts from the "bombers" diary talking to you throughout the book.
He leaves playing cards as clues for Gabi (of course)
Gabi's dad is the detective on the bombing case. But does she go to him with any of this?
Noooooo because Gabi is a snowflake. She has the power.
I have the power to stop this.
If I play by his rules.
If I gain his trust.
I can save everyone.
Including him.
This is a really shitty way to handle such a powerful topic of school violence and bullying. Making the main character take on a dangerous situation by herself sends the wrong message. What if some "real life" person reads this book and decides to do the same based on this lame shit?
Hell no.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
My friend Alicia wrote a wonderful review on this book. She liked it just a bit more than I did.
September 25, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Albert Whitman & Company, and NetGalley.)
“This is not a drill. And I’m gonna die.”
This was a YA mystery story about a school bomber.
Gabi seemed to have a bomber after her in this story! The threats and calls she received escalated to the point where they should have worried her, but all she did was try to help the bomber and to try and catch him herself!
The storyline in this was about the bomb that was found at Gabi’s school, and a helpline which was set up in a peer support capacity, which seemed to attract attention from the bomber! The mystery in this was pretty good, although I found the pace a little slow.
There was a bit of romance in this, but it didn’t really interest me.
The ending to this was pretty good, and I totally didn’t guess who the killer was!
6 out of 10
“This is not a drill. And I’m gonna die.”
This was a YA mystery story about a school bomber.
Gabi seemed to have a bomber after her in this story! The threats and calls she received escalated to the point where they should have worried her, but all she did was try to help the bomber and to try and catch him herself!
The storyline in this was about the bomb that was found at Gabi’s school, and a helpline which was set up in a peer support capacity, which seemed to attract attention from the bomber! The mystery in this was pretty good, although I found the pace a little slow.
There was a bit of romance in this, but it didn’t really interest me.
The ending to this was pretty good, and I totally didn’t guess who the killer was!
6 out of 10
November 21, 2015
I kept waiting for something... something to excite me. Something to keep me on my toes because that was what I expected to experience when I read the blurb of Are You Still There. But this book failed me in a lot of areas. From the first chapter, I had this hunch that the book wouldn't be as good as I thought it would but I still gave it the benefit of the doubt and kept myself reading.
I'm at the 60% mark and there was still nothing. What I found myself reading though was a thriller book that keeps trying but still ends up in a MEH, a clueless heroine that is supposed to be smart and just went boy crazy and an irritating romance that keeps bugging me.
So yeah, the book disappointed me so much.
I'm at the 60% mark and there was still nothing. What I found myself reading though was a thriller book that keeps trying but still ends up in a MEH, a clueless heroine that is supposed to be smart and just went boy crazy and an irritating romance that keeps bugging me.
So yeah, the book disappointed me so much.
August 23, 2015
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book had so much promise and so much potential. I am trying to think of a single positive thing about this book. The beginning of the book with Gabi hiding in the bathroom was very suspenseful. I guess the whole mystery of who the bomber was kept me reading, so there was that.
Let's start with the main character: Gabriella. She was so freaking perfect that it made my teeth hurt. She was in every single volunteer organization, got into every college she wanted and never even dated anyone because her mom wanted her to "keep her eye on the prize." Ugh. I hated her relationship with Miguel. First of all, when she first met him she assumed he was in an ESL class because she didn't recognize him. She also assumed he didn't speak English very well. I also got the impression that the author stuck a Latino kid in the story to try and make it more diverse, but then didn't know what to do with him. He would be speaking English and then all of a sudden, he would say a random word in Spanish, like bonita, perfecto, or hola. Oh, and Gabriella and a friend of hers talked about him growing up in a barrio, which was a great excuse for his crazy temper. There was also zero chemistry and of course, Miguel confessed his love after a week. So many problems with both of those characters.
Now let's talk about the mystery of the bomber. First of all, I am the most clueless person in the world and yet I knew who the bomber was the second he was introduced. Yep, it was very predictable. Throughout the book, there were inserts called "The Stranger's Manifesto" that was supposed to be journal entries by the bomber. These entries were boring and didn't add anything to the story. These entries gave no indication as to why this guy was choosing to terrorize the school or why he was targeting Gabi. That was the really ridiculous part. This guy was leaving notes for Gabi and calling her, but he never said why. But of course, Gabi decides to take it upon herself to find the bomber HERSELF and she never tells her dad (the COP) what is going on. The mystery kept me reading, but it was super predictable and still didn't answer any questions.
The author's note indicated she had worked on a crisis hotline in college, but I find that very hard to believe. The scenes where the kids were supposed to be counseling callers were just awkward. But what do you expect when the kids got literally ten minutes of training. That's it! This school created this anonymous helpline to supposedly help students who were feeling alone, but they got no training. Not only that, but there was no teacher or administrator who supervised their shifts. These students were just left alone with no faculty advisor in case they had a problem. And the only thing they could do was give callers referrals for counseling agencies.
In the end, this book had unlikeable characters, an unrealistic plot and zero suspense.
This book had so much promise and so much potential. I am trying to think of a single positive thing about this book. The beginning of the book with Gabi hiding in the bathroom was very suspenseful. I guess the whole mystery of who the bomber was kept me reading, so there was that.
Let's start with the main character: Gabriella. She was so freaking perfect that it made my teeth hurt. She was in every single volunteer organization, got into every college she wanted and never even dated anyone because her mom wanted her to "keep her eye on the prize." Ugh. I hated her relationship with Miguel. First of all, when she first met him she assumed he was in an ESL class because she didn't recognize him. She also assumed he didn't speak English very well. I also got the impression that the author stuck a Latino kid in the story to try and make it more diverse, but then didn't know what to do with him. He would be speaking English and then all of a sudden, he would say a random word in Spanish, like bonita, perfecto, or hola. Oh, and Gabriella and a friend of hers talked about him growing up in a barrio, which was a great excuse for his crazy temper. There was also zero chemistry and of course, Miguel confessed his love after a week. So many problems with both of those characters.
Now let's talk about the mystery of the bomber. First of all, I am the most clueless person in the world and yet I knew who the bomber was the second he was introduced. Yep, it was very predictable. Throughout the book, there were inserts called "The Stranger's Manifesto" that was supposed to be journal entries by the bomber. These entries were boring and didn't add anything to the story. These entries gave no indication as to why this guy was choosing to terrorize the school or why he was targeting Gabi. That was the really ridiculous part. This guy was leaving notes for Gabi and calling her, but he never said why. But of course, Gabi decides to take it upon herself to find the bomber HERSELF and she never tells her dad (the COP) what is going on. The mystery kept me reading, but it was super predictable and still didn't answer any questions.
The author's note indicated she had worked on a crisis hotline in college, but I find that very hard to believe. The scenes where the kids were supposed to be counseling callers were just awkward. But what do you expect when the kids got literally ten minutes of training. That's it! This school created this anonymous helpline to supposedly help students who were feeling alone, but they got no training. Not only that, but there was no teacher or administrator who supervised their shifts. These students were just left alone with no faculty advisor in case they had a problem. And the only thing they could do was give callers referrals for counseling agencies.
In the end, this book had unlikeable characters, an unrealistic plot and zero suspense.
September 7, 2015
“Are You Still There” is not what I would call enjoyable, but it is definitely important and timely. It deals with bullying and school violence, so at its core is unsettling, but also a book that should be read.
The story centers are Gabi and her family, all of whom have their strengths and weaknesses. At first, Gabi borders on the unlikable due to her judgmental nature and somewhat “holier-than-thou” attitude in regard to grades and volunteer work. It becomes clear rather quickly that she is simply clueless. She is eventually paired with a diverse group of students who expand each other’s self-awareness. All of the new friends she makes are interesting, go beyond their stereotypes, and add to the plot. I really liked the way Gabi grew, and helped others to grow, throughout the story.
As mentioned in the introduction, the story centers around bullying and violence. It also raises awareness on how we perceive ourselves and others. The most important message to take away is “If you can do or say something to help, do it. Don’t ever just sit back and watch.” Gabi makes some mistakes, and the author does not shy away from pointing out the consequences of those mistakes. There are also things beyond her control, and those are also presented unflinchingly. Nothing in “Are You Still There” is sugar-coated, nor should it be.
I highly recommend “Are You Still There” as a book that presents real issues to young adults without patronizing them. It would be a good book for parents to read and discuss with their child. Communication is so important, and I believe this book will present many opportunities for it.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The story centers are Gabi and her family, all of whom have their strengths and weaknesses. At first, Gabi borders on the unlikable due to her judgmental nature and somewhat “holier-than-thou” attitude in regard to grades and volunteer work. It becomes clear rather quickly that she is simply clueless. She is eventually paired with a diverse group of students who expand each other’s self-awareness. All of the new friends she makes are interesting, go beyond their stereotypes, and add to the plot. I really liked the way Gabi grew, and helped others to grow, throughout the story.
As mentioned in the introduction, the story centers around bullying and violence. It also raises awareness on how we perceive ourselves and others. The most important message to take away is “If you can do or say something to help, do it. Don’t ever just sit back and watch.” Gabi makes some mistakes, and the author does not shy away from pointing out the consequences of those mistakes. There are also things beyond her control, and those are also presented unflinchingly. Nothing in “Are You Still There” is sugar-coated, nor should it be.
I highly recommend “Are You Still There” as a book that presents real issues to young adults without patronizing them. It would be a good book for parents to read and discuss with their child. Communication is so important, and I believe this book will present many opportunities for it.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2015
* I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
3.5 Stars. This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. The summary made it sound like a YA thriller but I think it's actually more like a YA contemporary. It's very similar to a lot of YA contemporaries I read.
This book had a LOT of potential. It could have been so dark, so creepy, so GOOD but instead it was kind of flat. I thought the whole bomb story was underplayed. I felt like this novel was more so about Gabi and her life rather than Gabi being "targeted" by a crazy person who was threatening to bomb the school. There was no real suspenseful "cat and mouse" moments. The Stranger Manifesto excerpts were also disappointing. They were filled with clichés like "people don't notice me but now I'm going to make them notice me" etc. How many times have you heard variations of that line? I wish the Stranger passages focused more on the Stranger. I wanted to know more about him.
The writing was good. I liked it a lot. I thought the novel had a nice pace (it certainly wasn't a suspenseful or thrilling pace though). It's a quick read too. I liked the characters in this book but I wish we got to know more about them. Maybe Sarah Lynn Scheerger wanted all of her characters to be a bit mysterious so that literally anyone could have been the bomber or a caller/texter but I wanted more depth from them. The characters weren't one-dimensional but they definitely weren't as complex as they should have been.
The romance kind of took over the book. I don't know whether I liked Miguel or not. I thought he was a bit controlling. It was hard to differentiate whether he was protecting Gabi or being possessive of her. I've been subject to the kind of "protective" things Miguel did and so I know it's not right... Reading the things Miguel did made me uncomfortable because I found him to be overbearing. That's just my opinion but I would hope young girls wouldn't get it into their heads that his actions were okay. (Yes I'm probably reading way too much into things so I'll stop here).
Would I recommend the book? Maybe, it depends on what kind of books you like. Would I read another book by Sarah Lynn Scheerger? Yes.
3.5 Stars. This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. The summary made it sound like a YA thriller but I think it's actually more like a YA contemporary. It's very similar to a lot of YA contemporaries I read.
This book had a LOT of potential. It could have been so dark, so creepy, so GOOD but instead it was kind of flat. I thought the whole bomb story was underplayed. I felt like this novel was more so about Gabi and her life rather than Gabi being "targeted" by a crazy person who was threatening to bomb the school. There was no real suspenseful "cat and mouse" moments. The Stranger Manifesto excerpts were also disappointing. They were filled with clichés like "people don't notice me but now I'm going to make them notice me" etc. How many times have you heard variations of that line? I wish the Stranger passages focused more on the Stranger. I wanted to know more about him.
The writing was good. I liked it a lot. I thought the novel had a nice pace (it certainly wasn't a suspenseful or thrilling pace though). It's a quick read too. I liked the characters in this book but I wish we got to know more about them. Maybe Sarah Lynn Scheerger wanted all of her characters to be a bit mysterious so that literally anyone could have been the bomber or a caller/texter but I wanted more depth from them. The characters weren't one-dimensional but they definitely weren't as complex as they should have been.
The romance kind of took over the book. I don't know whether I liked Miguel or not. I thought he was a bit controlling. It was hard to differentiate whether he was protecting Gabi or being possessive of her. I've been subject to the kind of "protective" things Miguel did and so I know it's not right... Reading the things Miguel did made me uncomfortable because I found him to be overbearing. That's just my opinion but I would hope young girls wouldn't get it into their heads that his actions were okay. (Yes I'm probably reading way too much into things so I'll stop here).
Would I recommend the book? Maybe, it depends on what kind of books you like. Would I read another book by Sarah Lynn Scheerger? Yes.
June 15, 2024
Difficult read but highly enjoyed it
April 4, 2021
Grade: A-
ARE YOU STILL THERE has been on my Amazon Wish List since I read very early reviews, do I was thoroughly delighted to receive an ARC copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Sarah Lynn Scheerger not only met, but exceeded my expectations.
After a bomb scare in her high school, overachiever Gabi Mallory is recruited to become a hotline peer crisis worker. For the first time in her life, she becomes friends with an eclectic group of kids, instead of the usual nerdy brainiacs in her AP classes. In doing so, she realizes a lot of her classmates are hurting, and at least one may be plotting phase 2 of his violence. For the first time she's interested in boys and dating and not one, but two boys are interested in Gabi.
Scheerger gave Gabi an authentically strong, insightful voice. She's a good kid, with a healthy voice of fear she doesn't always mind. She's imperfect, but her heart is most always in the right place. Like most high school seniors, she thinks she knows and can handle a little more than she can. Most of the other characters, including the bomber, are complex and multilevel, although most of the characters judge and stereotype those different from them
. Interspersed between Gabi's chapters are the bomber's manifesto chapters where I realized he or she wasn't a monster, but an individual reeling from a friend's suicide, bullying, and despair over bystanders' inactions and perceived lack of empathy.
Part mystery, part coming-of-age ARE YOU STILL THERE? kept me guessing until the end. My first two guesses weren't merely red herrings, but characters with important stories whose words and actions fit their characters. Plot wise, Gabi did seem to receive a large percentage of calls from people she knew well, considering the school had 2000 students, but that's easy to overlook to keep the hotline calls relevant and interesting. I didn't buy into a scene at the end about her father's reaction about his safe based on his sterling behavior as a cop (thus is minor and not a spoiler) and a thought the hotline would have more adult presence during the calls, particularly after a bomb had been planted on the school. My criticisms are more detail picky than indicative of plot holes and I understand why Scheerger went in the direction she did. They didn't detract from my enjoyment of this wonderful novel.
THEMES: school violence, suicide, peer counseling, bullying, cliques, depression, outcasts, perfectionists, college application process, parental pressure, first boyfriends, siblings.
ARE YOU STILL THERE? is an important story about empathy, outcasts and noticing others--when they're hurting and when they aren't. I'd love to give a copy to every middle and high school student, parent and teacher.
ARE YOU STILL THERE has been on my Amazon Wish List since I read very early reviews, do I was thoroughly delighted to receive an ARC copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Sarah Lynn Scheerger not only met, but exceeded my expectations.
After a bomb scare in her high school, overachiever Gabi Mallory is recruited to become a hotline peer crisis worker. For the first time in her life, she becomes friends with an eclectic group of kids, instead of the usual nerdy brainiacs in her AP classes. In doing so, she realizes a lot of her classmates are hurting, and at least one may be plotting phase 2 of his violence. For the first time she's interested in boys and dating and not one, but two boys are interested in Gabi.
Scheerger gave Gabi an authentically strong, insightful voice. She's a good kid, with a healthy voice of fear she doesn't always mind. She's imperfect, but her heart is most always in the right place. Like most high school seniors, she thinks she knows and can handle a little more than she can. Most of the other characters, including the bomber, are complex and multilevel, although most of the characters judge and stereotype those different from them
. Interspersed between Gabi's chapters are the bomber's manifesto chapters where I realized he or she wasn't a monster, but an individual reeling from a friend's suicide, bullying, and despair over bystanders' inactions and perceived lack of empathy.
Part mystery, part coming-of-age ARE YOU STILL THERE? kept me guessing until the end. My first two guesses weren't merely red herrings, but characters with important stories whose words and actions fit their characters. Plot wise, Gabi did seem to receive a large percentage of calls from people she knew well, considering the school had 2000 students, but that's easy to overlook to keep the hotline calls relevant and interesting. I didn't buy into a scene at the end about her father's reaction about his safe based on his sterling behavior as a cop (thus is minor and not a spoiler) and a thought the hotline would have more adult presence during the calls, particularly after a bomb had been planted on the school. My criticisms are more detail picky than indicative of plot holes and I understand why Scheerger went in the direction she did. They didn't detract from my enjoyment of this wonderful novel.
THEMES: school violence, suicide, peer counseling, bullying, cliques, depression, outcasts, perfectionists, college application process, parental pressure, first boyfriends, siblings.
ARE YOU STILL THERE? is an important story about empathy, outcasts and noticing others--when they're hurting and when they aren't. I'd love to give a copy to every middle and high school student, parent and teacher.
September 3, 2015
Read more of this review at Beatrice Learns To Read
I received a Digital ARC of this book from Albert Whitman & Co. via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. By no means have my review been affected and/or influenced.
Are You Still There was a surprising read. This book had me first by its synopsis. But as I started reading, it was beyond what I've expected.
The book starts off with what seems like a diary entry called Stranger's Manifesto. Then it shifts to Gabi's POV as she's hiding in the school bathroom after a lockdown when a bomb was discovered to be planted in their school. (Want a sneak peek? Check out the first 2 chapters here) Right from that scenario, I already knew that I was going to enjoy this book. The execution was spot on and captivating. It was as if I was in the public toilet too, hiding, scared for my life.
After that incident, the school initiates a crisis helpline for the students and Gabi is recruited to be part of it. Her experience in the helpline opened her eyes in the reality of what's going on around her school and how she tends to overlook everything. Through the helpline, she met new people and learned about the students more than she thought she knew.
Then, the bomber starts calling and threatens that there will be another attack.
It gets creepier when Gabi receives direct threats (?) in the form of playing cards with disturbing drawings she keeps finding. It seems like the bomber is targeting Gabi specifically. So, the big question is why her and who is doing it.
The mystery behind the Stranger's identity kept the suspense running for the whole book. At first, I wasn't really a fan of how there weren't enough clues to the culprit's identity because I'm really into the guessing game whenever it comes to mysteries and thrillers but then I realized how it really works well with the plot. The Stranger was someone who wanted to be noticed, but in his/her high school, he/she was invisible and that was the clue itself. He/she is invisible.
Are You Still There is an eye-opening book about the realities of high school and what do some of the students go through. Sometimes, people are just looking for someone who is willing to listen.
I received a Digital ARC of this book from Albert Whitman & Co. via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. By no means have my review been affected and/or influenced.
Are You Still There was a surprising read. This book had me first by its synopsis. But as I started reading, it was beyond what I've expected.
The book starts off with what seems like a diary entry called Stranger's Manifesto. Then it shifts to Gabi's POV as she's hiding in the school bathroom after a lockdown when a bomb was discovered to be planted in their school. (Want a sneak peek? Check out the first 2 chapters here) Right from that scenario, I already knew that I was going to enjoy this book. The execution was spot on and captivating. It was as if I was in the public toilet too, hiding, scared for my life.
After that incident, the school initiates a crisis helpline for the students and Gabi is recruited to be part of it. Her experience in the helpline opened her eyes in the reality of what's going on around her school and how she tends to overlook everything. Through the helpline, she met new people and learned about the students more than she thought she knew.
Then, the bomber starts calling and threatens that there will be another attack.
It gets creepier when Gabi receives direct threats (?) in the form of playing cards with disturbing drawings she keeps finding. It seems like the bomber is targeting Gabi specifically. So, the big question is why her and who is doing it.
The mystery behind the Stranger's identity kept the suspense running for the whole book. At first, I wasn't really a fan of how there weren't enough clues to the culprit's identity because I'm really into the guessing game whenever it comes to mysteries and thrillers but then I realized how it really works well with the plot. The Stranger was someone who wanted to be noticed, but in his/her high school, he/she was invisible and that was the clue itself. He/she is invisible.
Are You Still There is an eye-opening book about the realities of high school and what do some of the students go through. Sometimes, people are just looking for someone who is willing to listen.
June 28, 2015
Nope. Read until around page 120, skimmed the rest.
I wanted a nuanced and creepy look at the psychology surrounding a school threat, both for the students attending the school and the terrorist himself.
This book YAified school terrorism in the worst ways. The main character is boring, the helpline honestly isn't that prominent compared to Gabi's own shallowly presented (and mainly romantic) issues, the whodunit is easy to guess, and other than the occasional bomber manifestos, there's no complex analysis of the bullying and isolation and fear that leads to these kind of awful events or their long-lasting impact.
The blurb sounds awesome, but the book itself is not. Sad, really. Should have been amazing.
I wanted a nuanced and creepy look at the psychology surrounding a school threat, both for the students attending the school and the terrorist himself.
This book YAified school terrorism in the worst ways. The main character is boring, the helpline honestly isn't that prominent compared to Gabi's own shallowly presented (and mainly romantic) issues, the whodunit is easy to guess, and other than the occasional bomber manifestos, there's no complex analysis of the bullying and isolation and fear that leads to these kind of awful events or their long-lasting impact.
The blurb sounds awesome, but the book itself is not. Sad, really. Should have been amazing.
September 7, 2015
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For the first time in forever, I read reviews of this book before I started reading it. I looked it up on Goodreads just to see how many pages it had, and saw all these 1/2* reviews, so I was intrigued as to what was so bad about it. And I found out, there was too much romance. Well I don't mind romance, so I read it anyway. And for the record, I didn't think there was too much romance or that the book was more focused on the relationship rather than the nearly-bombing-incident, I thought it was pretty good.
Full review is on my blog! Check it out:)
http://originalbooker.blogspot.co.uk/...
For the first time in forever, I read reviews of this book before I started reading it. I looked it up on Goodreads just to see how many pages it had, and saw all these 1/2* reviews, so I was intrigued as to what was so bad about it. And I found out, there was too much romance. Well I don't mind romance, so I read it anyway. And for the record, I didn't think there was too much romance or that the book was more focused on the relationship rather than the nearly-bombing-incident, I thought it was pretty good.
Full review is on my blog! Check it out:)
http://originalbooker.blogspot.co.uk/...
August 26, 2015
Are You Still There was an intriguing premise and a book that I enjoyed, a fast read, with some interesting themes and characters.
It starts off with a bang, as we meet Gabi, hiding in the bathroom during a school lockdown, waiting to see if she lives or dies. The school has received a bomb threat - in this case no-one is hurt but as the story progresses we understand that the danger is not over.
It waa a mix of suspense and character relationship drama - not only is a load of stuff going on at the school but Gabi herself is beginning to bloom afer a long time being the perfect child. I was particularly fascinated by her relationhsip with her Sister and Mother - especially as her personality developed within the narrative.
On top of that she gets involved with a crisis helpline set up by the school, meets new friends there and starts to expand her horizons, this is an excellent thread of the story, looking at how these things work and the point of them - in this story mixed in with the need to track down the person behind the threat, someone who seems to have latched onto Gabi as a possible saviour.
Gabi's character voice is engaging throughout, the wider cast making a good group dynamic - so if anything the suspense element, that of the hidden personality behind the threats is kind of secondary - there is a side part where we hear their thoughts as a kind of journal, but I'll be honest and say that I didn't feel the story really NEEDED that bit. I found "him" far less interesting than the rest and a little flat, although as an anchor to what I found REALLY great - Gabi and the exploration of personalities - it was fair enough.
I enjoyed the idea of looking at the wider affects things like this have within school communities, both from the kids side and the adult's side - this was a fast and addictive read for me, excellent writing and flowing well - with some good points made and a main protagonist I really got behind. Overall a good one.
Happy Reading Folks!
It starts off with a bang, as we meet Gabi, hiding in the bathroom during a school lockdown, waiting to see if she lives or dies. The school has received a bomb threat - in this case no-one is hurt but as the story progresses we understand that the danger is not over.
It waa a mix of suspense and character relationship drama - not only is a load of stuff going on at the school but Gabi herself is beginning to bloom afer a long time being the perfect child. I was particularly fascinated by her relationhsip with her Sister and Mother - especially as her personality developed within the narrative.
On top of that she gets involved with a crisis helpline set up by the school, meets new friends there and starts to expand her horizons, this is an excellent thread of the story, looking at how these things work and the point of them - in this story mixed in with the need to track down the person behind the threat, someone who seems to have latched onto Gabi as a possible saviour.
Gabi's character voice is engaging throughout, the wider cast making a good group dynamic - so if anything the suspense element, that of the hidden personality behind the threats is kind of secondary - there is a side part where we hear their thoughts as a kind of journal, but I'll be honest and say that I didn't feel the story really NEEDED that bit. I found "him" far less interesting than the rest and a little flat, although as an anchor to what I found REALLY great - Gabi and the exploration of personalities - it was fair enough.
I enjoyed the idea of looking at the wider affects things like this have within school communities, both from the kids side and the adult's side - this was a fast and addictive read for me, excellent writing and flowing well - with some good points made and a main protagonist I really got behind. Overall a good one.
Happy Reading Folks!
July 17, 2015
I received a copy via net galley.
So first off I've never read a book dealing with this subject matter before so wasn't sure if I was going to like it. But I was really interesting I was so hooked from the beginning, I don't understand what everyone else read who said they didn't like it because no offense this book is really good. It has these mysterious "Stranger" passages before each chapter then it's transferred over to the main protagonist. Whom is just this perfect student. The mystery unravels each chapter just to become even more twisted I swear by the end I was a ball of nerves and was like come on who is it already. I loved this book and would definitely recommend it. Great characters, overly suspenseful, and intriguing story.
So first off I've never read a book dealing with this subject matter before so wasn't sure if I was going to like it. But I was really interesting I was so hooked from the beginning, I don't understand what everyone else read who said they didn't like it because no offense this book is really good. It has these mysterious "Stranger" passages before each chapter then it's transferred over to the main protagonist. Whom is just this perfect student. The mystery unravels each chapter just to become even more twisted I swear by the end I was a ball of nerves and was like come on who is it already. I loved this book and would definitely recommend it. Great characters, overly suspenseful, and intriguing story.
June 12, 2015
The premise of Are You Still There is a really compelling one--Gabriella Mallory, a rule-following AP student, starts to see some dramatic changes in her life after a bomb is planted in her school. While the bomb is ultimately defused and no one is hurt, the school puts in place an anonymous crisis hotline that Gabriella is selected to be a part of. The relationship she has with this hotline is one of the most important parts of the book--while her former volunteer activities were obligations to fulfill for the benefit of college applications, her work on the hotline becomes an experience that leads her to new and unexpected friendships.
This novel is at its heart about familial love and friendship, and it is in those places that the book best succeeds. The plot is thrilling and quickly moving due to its focus on the identity of the mysterious bomber, but in many places relationships feel thin and underdrawn. Gabi says that she loves her boyfriend, that their relationship will endure, but I didn't find her relationship with Miguel to be convincingly deep or important. Almost every scene with him was based on a physical rather than an emotional connection, and when she said she loved him, I felt as though I was missing the information that would lead me to understand why.
In contrast to this romantic relationship, I found the friendships and sibling relationships to be endearing and convincing. While some of the friendships began and ended with an unrealistic ease, I do think that the sentiments expressed were important. I think Gabi's growing relationship with her sister is really where the book shined brightest, apart from the hotline scenes (though I was pretty confused as to why Chloe's T-shirt obsession was repeatedly referred to. It didn't seem consistent with Chloe's personality, which I thought was one of the better developed character personalities in the novel. The cheesy jokes on her T-shirts and Gabi's narrative commentary about how she was trying not to laugh at how funny they were felt forced and extraneous and out of place). I thought her relationship with her father was also great.
Going back to the idea that parts of the book felt thin to me, I felt some issues were skimmed over rather than dealt with fully. The issue of Chloe's troubled friend, for example, was a great way of giving a voice to depressed teenagers and showing readers it is possible to find help, but I felt there was more of a story than was given--I loved that scene, but I wanted it to connect more to the rest of the story. I think the identity of the bomber came a little out of nowhere, and that Gabi's revelation at the end seemed a little off. Her point is that there are so many better ways to improve the world than by using destruction to make a point, which is so true--and she is changing the world through her work on the crisis hotline. She says that the bomber deserves to be locked up for a long time, and maybe that's true, but I feel as though she would have more compassion for him given her work on the hotline. Of course, that's a judgment of a character rather than a judgment of the text itself, and I do think the novel ended nicely and powerfully.
Ultimately, I liked this book, which tied in a lot of different ideas about loneliness and mental illness and danger and crime but is at its roots a novel of family and friendship and helping others by connecting with them. It was well-paced and kept me wanting to know what happened next, but it was missing something for me in the way some of the characters interacted. The events signifying a development in character development were there, but again, the feeling behind it felt thin. I didn't feel like I had a truly good sense of the personality of many of the characters aside from Gabi's sister and father. I guess I just wanted something more out of this, not in its message, which I think was explored deftly, but in the substance of the text itself.
This novel is at its heart about familial love and friendship, and it is in those places that the book best succeeds. The plot is thrilling and quickly moving due to its focus on the identity of the mysterious bomber, but in many places relationships feel thin and underdrawn. Gabi says that she loves her boyfriend, that their relationship will endure, but I didn't find her relationship with Miguel to be convincingly deep or important. Almost every scene with him was based on a physical rather than an emotional connection, and when she said she loved him, I felt as though I was missing the information that would lead me to understand why.
In contrast to this romantic relationship, I found the friendships and sibling relationships to be endearing and convincing. While some of the friendships began and ended with an unrealistic ease, I do think that the sentiments expressed were important. I think Gabi's growing relationship with her sister is really where the book shined brightest, apart from the hotline scenes (though I was pretty confused as to why Chloe's T-shirt obsession was repeatedly referred to. It didn't seem consistent with Chloe's personality, which I thought was one of the better developed character personalities in the novel. The cheesy jokes on her T-shirts and Gabi's narrative commentary about how she was trying not to laugh at how funny they were felt forced and extraneous and out of place). I thought her relationship with her father was also great.
Going back to the idea that parts of the book felt thin to me, I felt some issues were skimmed over rather than dealt with fully. The issue of Chloe's troubled friend, for example, was a great way of giving a voice to depressed teenagers and showing readers it is possible to find help, but I felt there was more of a story than was given--I loved that scene, but I wanted it to connect more to the rest of the story. I think the identity of the bomber came a little out of nowhere, and that Gabi's revelation at the end seemed a little off. Her point is that there are so many better ways to improve the world than by using destruction to make a point, which is so true--and she is changing the world through her work on the crisis hotline. She says that the bomber deserves to be locked up for a long time, and maybe that's true, but I feel as though she would have more compassion for him given her work on the hotline. Of course, that's a judgment of a character rather than a judgment of the text itself, and I do think the novel ended nicely and powerfully.
Ultimately, I liked this book, which tied in a lot of different ideas about loneliness and mental illness and danger and crime but is at its roots a novel of family and friendship and helping others by connecting with them. It was well-paced and kept me wanting to know what happened next, but it was missing something for me in the way some of the characters interacted. The events signifying a development in character development were there, but again, the feeling behind it felt thin. I didn't feel like I had a truly good sense of the personality of many of the characters aside from Gabi's sister and father. I guess I just wanted something more out of this, not in its message, which I think was explored deftly, but in the substance of the text itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2016
Are You Still There is a psychological thriller that focuses on hard hitting teen issues. While it was gruesome at times, it did not take away from the fact that everything was pulled together so neatly, that it made it worth it. I had a hard time putting this book down. It made me angry, it made me cry, it made me shrink away it in fear, and it made me happy. This was an outstanding book, one I feel hits every issue in just the right way and handled everything perfectly. Loved it!
June 8, 2024
Well, this is what I get for deciding to read something that creeps me out before bed, lol! I’ll admit, I don’t do well with scary shows, movies, books, etc. I like rom-coms and the food network. Sooo I may have a hard time sleeping tonight. But I feel like this won’t be scary for the normal person, it’s a YA after all. Just the scenario of a bomber, having him stalk and contact the main character, leaving things for her to find and then the whole helpline conversations (with multiple people) were creepy. Maybe I’ll just try and stay awake tonight.
I get that this is a YA, but it was so incredibly juvenile. Yes, let’s not tell the police (ahem, father who is the detective on the case) about all this stuff going on and how I’m talking to the bomber, but I, Gabi, can solve this myself. I don’t need anyone’s help, I can stop this and save everyone. No. Just no. That whole part was frustrating to me. To be fair though, figuring out the who and why behind all of this and how it was going to end is why I continued reading. All other aspects of this fell completely flat, or even cringey. The romance (extra cringey, added nothing) the character development, the relationships with other characters (platonic). Even the helpline situation in general - yeah, let’s make a “community helpline” run by students and not offer them any support on how to handle the things they come across. The whole concept was strange to me, especially how the principal and faculty involved just disappeared after it all started.
Plus, if this is going to revolve around a theme of school bullying and being more accountable, plus, oh I don’t know, a SCHOOL BOMB THREAT, you’d think they would take it a bit more seriously. This was rather campy at times.
So while I’ve never read a book with this sort of storyline, I don’t think I will be again (because of my own rainbows and fluffy clouds and unicorn marshmallow self, not because of the book). But, based on pretty much every other aspect of the book being a letdown, I don’t think I’ll be trying this author again either.
Things I did like:
- Interesting enough that I wanted to finish to see who did it and how things would end
- Janae
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
I get that this is a YA, but it was so incredibly juvenile. Yes, let’s not tell the police (ahem, father who is the detective on the case) about all this stuff going on and how I’m talking to the bomber, but I, Gabi, can solve this myself. I don’t need anyone’s help, I can stop this and save everyone. No. Just no. That whole part was frustrating to me. To be fair though, figuring out the who and why behind all of this and how it was going to end is why I continued reading. All other aspects of this fell completely flat, or even cringey. The romance (extra cringey, added nothing) the character development, the relationships with other characters (platonic). Even the helpline situation in general - yeah, let’s make a “community helpline” run by students and not offer them any support on how to handle the things they come across. The whole concept was strange to me, especially how the principal and faculty involved just disappeared after it all started.
Plus, if this is going to revolve around a theme of school bullying and being more accountable, plus, oh I don’t know, a SCHOOL BOMB THREAT, you’d think they would take it a bit more seriously. This was rather campy at times.
So while I’ve never read a book with this sort of storyline, I don’t think I will be again (because of my own rainbows and fluffy clouds and unicorn marshmallow self, not because of the book). But, based on pretty much every other aspect of the book being a letdown, I don’t think I’ll be trying this author again either.
Things I did like:
- Interesting enough that I wanted to finish to see who did it and how things would end
- Janae
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2018
This book was quite interesting. I haven't read a book like this before. Though there are some parts that are uneventful and rather dull.
December 21, 2025
Ending fell a little flat for me, but a fun story that kept me engaged
July 17, 2022
3.5 ⭐️’s
December 22, 2022
I didn't figure out the ending!
September 10, 2016
Rating: 2.5/5
This book is the perfect example for: it's not you, it's me. I began with high expectations, thinking it was more like a thriller. But was about friendship and love and helping others people. I won't lie: I liked that those themes were the subject from the story, but the rest....
What I Liked:
*The premise. After millions and millions cases of attacks in schools in the USA, it was time to read about a book that was about the bomber's search. A solitary and invisible boy who planted a bomb in a school for a very special reason. The entrys from his manifesto tried to explain us why he did that.
*The Helpline. This was probably the best thing in the book. The Helpline makes you thinking about a lot of things and explains that YOU can do a big difference in the world by helping others.
*The friendship that begins between Gabi and the guys from the helpline. Even when I don't totally connected with Gaby, I really liked her friendship; and I totally loved that Gabi notices that being the 'perfect and good girl' made her lost a lot of things from highschool and that is SO true.
What I Disliked:
*The mystery. I thought that the book was a complete thriller and I was very disappointed for that aspect.
*The bomber's identity. It came from nowhere. It was just ONE clue in all the book that pointed to him.
*The rest of the book. It was an enjoyable book and I loved the message about bullying&that a little help makes a difference in some people. But the rest from the story, idk. I was boring in some parts, but being a short book makes it easy. In conclusion, this was definitely a book not for me.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is the perfect example for: it's not you, it's me. I began with high expectations, thinking it was more like a thriller. But was about friendship and love and helping others people. I won't lie: I liked that those themes were the subject from the story, but the rest....
What I Liked:
*The premise. After millions and millions cases of attacks in schools in the USA, it was time to read about a book that was about the bomber's search. A solitary and invisible boy who planted a bomb in a school for a very special reason. The entrys from his manifesto tried to explain us why he did that.
*The Helpline. This was probably the best thing in the book. The Helpline makes you thinking about a lot of things and explains that YOU can do a big difference in the world by helping others.
*The friendship that begins between Gabi and the guys from the helpline. Even when I don't totally connected with Gaby, I really liked her friendship; and I totally loved that Gabi notices that being the 'perfect and good girl' made her lost a lot of things from highschool and that is SO true.
What I Disliked:
*The mystery. I thought that the book was a complete thriller and I was very disappointed for that aspect.
*The bomber's identity. It came from nowhere. It was just ONE clue in all the book that pointed to him.
*The rest of the book. It was an enjoyable book and I loved the message about bullying&that a little help makes a difference in some people. But the rest from the story, idk. I was boring in some parts, but being a short book makes it easy. In conclusion, this was definitely a book not for me.
July 29, 2015
3.5 -3.75 (fence sitting)
"A slip of the hand, a freaking illusion with light. Because they forgot I don’t exist And when they remembered, I wanted to crawl into the deepest, darkest hole I could find. Because I knew—for a moment— What it felt like to be someone."
This is a tricky one to review, I really enjoyed the supporting characters and the overall development of the main character (who I wasn't a fan off in the beginning). I also liked the 'Strangers Manifesto' chapters and how they reminded the reader as the storyline progressed in other directions that the "bomber" was still out there. The writing style was clear and engaging, and I really enjoyed watching her family unit develop, as well as her branching out and embracing new friendships and new experiences. Unlike a few other reviews I read, I enjoyed the romance, I felt that yes there connection did seem to be from a physical attraction but that is normal for teenagers, you don't generally find the love of your life at 17 and the relationships you have at that age are not always complex.
However I think the story tried to do to much at once, it tried to be both a beautiful contemporary about growing up (which it did really well) and a suspenseful thriller (which it didn't do as well). The bomb threat is what bought all of these characters together and the playing cards and freaky calls were definitely interesting but not enough to make the reader really sit on the edge of their seat.
Overall I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who feels like they couldn't read a straight contemporary who needs something else going on in the overall plot. (This is not a bad 3 stars).
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"A slip of the hand, a freaking illusion with light. Because they forgot I don’t exist And when they remembered, I wanted to crawl into the deepest, darkest hole I could find. Because I knew—for a moment— What it felt like to be someone."
This is a tricky one to review, I really enjoyed the supporting characters and the overall development of the main character (who I wasn't a fan off in the beginning). I also liked the 'Strangers Manifesto' chapters and how they reminded the reader as the storyline progressed in other directions that the "bomber" was still out there. The writing style was clear and engaging, and I really enjoyed watching her family unit develop, as well as her branching out and embracing new friendships and new experiences. Unlike a few other reviews I read, I enjoyed the romance, I felt that yes there connection did seem to be from a physical attraction but that is normal for teenagers, you don't generally find the love of your life at 17 and the relationships you have at that age are not always complex.
However I think the story tried to do to much at once, it tried to be both a beautiful contemporary about growing up (which it did really well) and a suspenseful thriller (which it didn't do as well). The bomb threat is what bought all of these characters together and the playing cards and freaky calls were definitely interesting but not enough to make the reader really sit on the edge of their seat.
Overall I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who feels like they couldn't read a straight contemporary who needs something else going on in the overall plot. (This is not a bad 3 stars).
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2016
Simple and easy to read but engaged me from the beginning. I usually enjoy mystery books and I liked this one because the plot wasn't complicated (and doesn't involve a lot of deep contemplation) but still made me want to know who the bomber was!
I liked the characters, but didn't really like Miguel and Gabi as a couple. There is no connection or spark, and just how things started between them was kind of forced. I'm not sure the secret society the created would work in real life and I thought they were lucky that the bomber wasn't a part of it.
Overall, the ending was unexpected. Glad things worked out well for everyone. There were still unanswered questions but they weren't of much importance.
I liked the characters, but didn't really like Miguel and Gabi as a couple. There is no connection or spark, and just how things started between them was kind of forced. I'm not sure the secret society the created would work in real life and I thought they were lucky that the bomber wasn't a part of it.
Overall, the ending was unexpected. Glad things worked out well for everyone. There were still unanswered questions but they weren't of much importance.
August 13, 2015
I actually enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Though I thought I was going to get a thriller, it was more of a contemporary with a mystery/thriller aspect. The characters were a little under developed, but I liked the flow of the story and the pacing. I also really enjoyed that you got to see inside the bombers mind. There are a lot of elements in this story that are very realistic to what it is like to go to high school these days, which I felt were portrayed in a true way.
It is a coming of age story that I think YA readers would enjoy!
It is a coming of age story that I think YA readers would enjoy!
August 21, 2015
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
Actual rating - 2.75
This started out okay, but unfortunately, it didn't stay that way long.
The pacing was just way too slow for me, and the book felt like it was twice as long than what it was because of how badly it was dragging.
I didn't find the mystery of who the person was suspenseful at all, and after about 40%, it completely lost my interest too.
Overall, Okay start, but went downhill.
Actual rating - 2.75
This started out okay, but unfortunately, it didn't stay that way long.
The pacing was just way too slow for me, and the book felt like it was twice as long than what it was because of how badly it was dragging.
I didn't find the mystery of who the person was suspenseful at all, and after about 40%, it completely lost my interest too.
Overall, Okay start, but went downhill.
January 1, 2021
The book started out well, full of suspense. A real page turner until i reached the last few pages. The ending was so cheesy and lame. More like a Disney story were everyone lives happily ever after. I would have preferred if they focused more on the bomber's feelings and the causes behind his psychotic behaviour rather then condemn his actions.
January 9, 2024
Gosh, this had so much potential. Less of a thriller, more of a ‘he falls first’ romance.
A bomb was found on campus at Gabi’s school, but the person who put it there is yet to be found. It could be anyone and Gabi doesn’t know who to trust. When an anonymous texted keeps reaching out to the helpline where Gabi volunteers, she’s almost certain the bomber is trying to communicate with them. When she starts receiving direct messages from the bomber, she begins to think something far more sinister is going on. Can she find a way to stop the bomber in his tracks or will she become the first victim?
The characters are shallow, vapid and all blend together honestly. This was marketed as a thriller, but was more of a dark romance if you ask me. Dark because no matter how many times Gabi tells Miguel she’s not interested, he keeps trying. Won’t take no for an answer. It’s honestly annoying and not cute and playful like it was supposed to be.
The “pranks” that are added for whatever reason are incredibly not funny. I didn’t laugh at one and I didn’t understand the point. I was way more interested in reading about Gabi trying to figure out who the bomber was, but there was very little of that until the end. Most of it was Gabi being an emotional teenager and going through the problems of life.
I think this does send a strong message on bullying though. Too many times people stand by and do nothing until it’s far too late.
This wasn’t completely terrible. It was fast paced and the story outside of the bombing really wasn’t that bad. I just feel like it didn’t do a good job of handling a topic like school violence. It just make a lot of sense or leave me with any lingering emotions.
A bomb was found on campus at Gabi’s school, but the person who put it there is yet to be found. It could be anyone and Gabi doesn’t know who to trust. When an anonymous texted keeps reaching out to the helpline where Gabi volunteers, she’s almost certain the bomber is trying to communicate with them. When she starts receiving direct messages from the bomber, she begins to think something far more sinister is going on. Can she find a way to stop the bomber in his tracks or will she become the first victim?
The characters are shallow, vapid and all blend together honestly. This was marketed as a thriller, but was more of a dark romance if you ask me. Dark because no matter how many times Gabi tells Miguel she’s not interested, he keeps trying. Won’t take no for an answer. It’s honestly annoying and not cute and playful like it was supposed to be.
The “pranks” that are added for whatever reason are incredibly not funny. I didn’t laugh at one and I didn’t understand the point. I was way more interested in reading about Gabi trying to figure out who the bomber was, but there was very little of that until the end. Most of it was Gabi being an emotional teenager and going through the problems of life.
I think this does send a strong message on bullying though. Too many times people stand by and do nothing until it’s far too late.
This wasn’t completely terrible. It was fast paced and the story outside of the bombing really wasn’t that bad. I just feel like it didn’t do a good job of handling a topic like school violence. It just make a lot of sense or leave me with any lingering emotions.
August 14, 2016
Gabi Mallory is in the girls' bathroom of her high school the moment a bomb threat is called in. Police quickly arrive to assess the situation, DO find a bomb but no clues as to who the bomber might be. Since all the students are visibly emotionally shaken, school is let out early. Gabi returns home to talk to her parents, only to find her cop-father has already been assigned to the case (to determine who the mysterious bomber is).
As the weeks progress, Gabi returns to school, attempting to return to a normal routine all around actually. In the wake of the attempted bombing, the school decides to set up a crisis hotline where students can anonymously call in and discuss anything troubling them. Gabi is chosen as one of a crew of students brought together to man the phone lines.
Small clues as to the bomber's identity start to surface here and there. First we learn that the mystery person wishes to go by the moniker Stranger, since how they identify themselves in the world, a quiet, ignored figure who's been made to feel like a nobody by their peers. Then the playing cards start popping up, cryptic messages written around the card edges. The majority of them being find their way into Gabi's locker, much to her unease! Why is she being targeted? Is the bomber someone she knows .... a friend feeling neglected? a boy she might have too harshly rejected? Or was she just chosen at random? Some clues even have her throwing suspicious glances at her new boyfriend... how much does she know about him really?
Angry (but still anonymous) calls full of venom and threats start flooding the hotline call center. Even when the kids close up shop each night and head home, right at 9 pm shift end, texts come on their personal phones, only ever saying "Are you still there?" Some of the messages written on the playing cards hint at the possibility that the bomber might have some connection to the recent suicide of a student from the high school. Readers of this novel are given extra glimpses at who the bomber might be via the brief one page "Stranger's Manifesto" entries, written in a sort of verse style, that precede each chapter.
Admittedly, I went into this one with somewhat high expectations. Having been a high school student the year the Columbine shooting happened and having my own high school subsequently go on a kind of security lockdown, I remember well the fear that comes with being in this type of situation. It's a fear that I didn't feel was all that well conveyed in this novel. There is SOME suspense as the reader tries to piece together the identity of the bomber, trying to figure out Gabi's connection to it all. I sometimes felt nervous for her in scenes where I thought she might be possibly victimized, but truthfully for the subject matter I felt this book was played way too safe.
For me, I think the trouble was the sense that not enough focus was being put on the bomber / the investigation. I felt like I spent sooo much time having to read about Gabi's budding dating life and social time with her friends. I was left thinking, "she really doesn't seem all that troubled for someone that could possibly be a target for some mentally unhinged bomber!" When I got to the end and the identity of the bomber was revealed, I was further annoyed because of the character Scheerger decided to pin the crime to. It just felt like a waste of my reading time (trying to dance around possible spoilers here, btw).
What bothered me more than that though was just the character of Gabi. Not just her casualness in the situation, but I noticed in her dialogue she kept making these slightly judgemental, sometimes almost racist remarks about other kids in her school: images of Native American warriors instantly made her think of "war, violence, savagery"; the Hispanic kid who "was obviously an ESL student", the girl who half-buzzed / half dyed her hair "pretty sure she's a druggie" or the "fringe" students as she called them, the kids outside the popular crowds who "couldn't be honor kids" WTF? Most "fringe" kids I knew (me being one of them, even) WERE the honor roll kids usually tutoring the popular kids... what do you think put us on that fringe in the first place? :-P Even her thoughts on Buddha: "Buddha in his diaper and cute fat rolls." WOW.
By Chapter 23, Gabi's commentary turns a shade hypocritical. When a friend of Gabi's says something along the same lines as Gabi's thoughts above, and ends with "Gabi, you're hanging out with losers" Gabi comes back with, "What do you think gives you the right to pass judgement on all kinds of random people? Just 'cause they're not like you? That somehow makes them less worthy as human beings? What kind of holier-than-thou stuff is that? You're mean. And I'm mean for listening to you all these years and not telling you what I really think."
You know, Gabi, a pot is still a pot no matter how many shelves higher it's placed above that kettle. ;-)
So yeah, after cringing so hard at / being so distracted by Gabi's run-away mouth, I pretty much forgot to be concerned about the whole other bomber storyline!
Though I might not have been blown away with the story itself, I applaud Scheerger regardless for getting the topic out there regarding teenage depression and the dangers that can follow. I also appreciate that she includes a resource page at the back of the book where readers can find help if they are feeling depressed / suicidal.
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From Scheerger's author blurb at the back of the book: "Are You Still There was inspired by her time volunteering for a helpline in college, an experience that led to her career as a clinical social worker. Today, Sarah runs counseling groups for at-risk teens on middle and high school campuses."
As the weeks progress, Gabi returns to school, attempting to return to a normal routine all around actually. In the wake of the attempted bombing, the school decides to set up a crisis hotline where students can anonymously call in and discuss anything troubling them. Gabi is chosen as one of a crew of students brought together to man the phone lines.
Small clues as to the bomber's identity start to surface here and there. First we learn that the mystery person wishes to go by the moniker Stranger, since how they identify themselves in the world, a quiet, ignored figure who's been made to feel like a nobody by their peers. Then the playing cards start popping up, cryptic messages written around the card edges. The majority of them being find their way into Gabi's locker, much to her unease! Why is she being targeted? Is the bomber someone she knows .... a friend feeling neglected? a boy she might have too harshly rejected? Or was she just chosen at random? Some clues even have her throwing suspicious glances at her new boyfriend... how much does she know about him really?
Angry (but still anonymous) calls full of venom and threats start flooding the hotline call center. Even when the kids close up shop each night and head home, right at 9 pm shift end, texts come on their personal phones, only ever saying "Are you still there?" Some of the messages written on the playing cards hint at the possibility that the bomber might have some connection to the recent suicide of a student from the high school. Readers of this novel are given extra glimpses at who the bomber might be via the brief one page "Stranger's Manifesto" entries, written in a sort of verse style, that precede each chapter.
Admittedly, I went into this one with somewhat high expectations. Having been a high school student the year the Columbine shooting happened and having my own high school subsequently go on a kind of security lockdown, I remember well the fear that comes with being in this type of situation. It's a fear that I didn't feel was all that well conveyed in this novel. There is SOME suspense as the reader tries to piece together the identity of the bomber, trying to figure out Gabi's connection to it all. I sometimes felt nervous for her in scenes where I thought she might be possibly victimized, but truthfully for the subject matter I felt this book was played way too safe.
For me, I think the trouble was the sense that not enough focus was being put on the bomber / the investigation. I felt like I spent sooo much time having to read about Gabi's budding dating life and social time with her friends. I was left thinking, "she really doesn't seem all that troubled for someone that could possibly be a target for some mentally unhinged bomber!" When I got to the end and the identity of the bomber was revealed, I was further annoyed because of the character Scheerger decided to pin the crime to. It just felt like a waste of my reading time (trying to dance around possible spoilers here, btw).
What bothered me more than that though was just the character of Gabi. Not just her casualness in the situation, but I noticed in her dialogue she kept making these slightly judgemental, sometimes almost racist remarks about other kids in her school: images of Native American warriors instantly made her think of "war, violence, savagery"; the Hispanic kid who "was obviously an ESL student", the girl who half-buzzed / half dyed her hair "pretty sure she's a druggie" or the "fringe" students as she called them, the kids outside the popular crowds who "couldn't be honor kids" WTF? Most "fringe" kids I knew (me being one of them, even) WERE the honor roll kids usually tutoring the popular kids... what do you think put us on that fringe in the first place? :-P Even her thoughts on Buddha: "Buddha in his diaper and cute fat rolls." WOW.
By Chapter 23, Gabi's commentary turns a shade hypocritical. When a friend of Gabi's says something along the same lines as Gabi's thoughts above, and ends with "Gabi, you're hanging out with losers" Gabi comes back with, "What do you think gives you the right to pass judgement on all kinds of random people? Just 'cause they're not like you? That somehow makes them less worthy as human beings? What kind of holier-than-thou stuff is that? You're mean. And I'm mean for listening to you all these years and not telling you what I really think."
You know, Gabi, a pot is still a pot no matter how many shelves higher it's placed above that kettle. ;-)
So yeah, after cringing so hard at / being so distracted by Gabi's run-away mouth, I pretty much forgot to be concerned about the whole other bomber storyline!
Though I might not have been blown away with the story itself, I applaud Scheerger regardless for getting the topic out there regarding teenage depression and the dangers that can follow. I also appreciate that she includes a resource page at the back of the book where readers can find help if they are feeling depressed / suicidal.
-----------------
From Scheerger's author blurb at the back of the book: "Are You Still There was inspired by her time volunteering for a helpline in college, an experience that led to her career as a clinical social worker. Today, Sarah runs counseling groups for at-risk teens on middle and high school campuses."
September 11, 2018
A bomb threat is one thing. An actual bomb planted in the middle of the school, sparking a general panic, is something else again. This suburban high school will never be the same. Neither will Gabi and her circle of friends if they can’t defuse the mystery.
This young adult mystery is real, as real as fear. With impeccable structure, wit and style, it explores the timely theme of campus bullying in terms of the pressures and hard choices that face young people today. Even an old codger like me had to stay up til midnight to finish Are You Still There and find out the bomber’s identity. I haven’t done that in years!
This young adult mystery is real, as real as fear. With impeccable structure, wit and style, it explores the timely theme of campus bullying in terms of the pressures and hard choices that face young people today. Even an old codger like me had to stay up til midnight to finish Are You Still There and find out the bomber’s identity. I haven’t done that in years!
April 9, 2020
This author did a really good job of depicting teenagers accurately. The things they said and did were very age appropriate and not all authors are good at that. A lot of red herrings were thrown out to try to make us this various people were the "bad one"...I actually wondered for the last half of the book if it was a character I won't name, but I was wrong....my only quibble... what about the caller to the help line that was having a lot of relationship problems?..seemed odd that that bit of storyline was not resolved. I'm pretty sure I know who it was, but I wonder why it was just kind of left up in the air.
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